Sterling officials hope to end senior center impasse

Just like that, the town’s proposed senior center has shrunk 1,000 square feet, to a size that both proponents and opponents say they can accept.

After digesting the results of a November town meeting in which most voters — but not the necessary a two-thirds majority — supported the a 7,500-square-foot building at Boutelle and Muddy Pond roads, both selectmen and the Senior Center Building Committee said last night they should have given more guarantees that the project would not spiral into upward estimates of 11,000 square feet or $2.5 million in spending. Both the Finance Committee and Capital Plan Committee, citing uncertainty over the final cost, had voted against preliminary funding of an architect and project manager.

This week, Selectman Paul M. Sushchyk, the board’s chairman, said it is time for both sides to compromise on a project that the whole town can support, and have a spending proposal ready for the next town meeting in May.

“Let’s build 6,500 square feet and let’s start planning on this,” Mr. Sushchyk said. “We need to knock off all this folderol, get focused on get the thing done.”

Kevin Beaupre, who worked on an initial committee that recommended a “minimum 5,000 square-foot” senior center, said that even he would support 6,500 square feet in order to get the project moving. Maureen Cranson, co-chairman of the current building committee, also said she could live with Mr. Sushchyk’s suggestion.

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